wfn.org | WCC NEWS: "Sending service" on the Areopagus

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World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 16/05/2005

"SENDING SERVICE" ON THE AREOPAGUS EMBRACES UNITY AMID DIVERSITY

Free photos available at
www.mission2005.org

Following in the footsteps of Saint Paul, WCC general secretary Samuel
Kobia proclaimed Christian unity in "a fellowship that exceeds our
capacity to define it".

Common prayer and reflection within a historic setting in downtown Athens
provided a climax to the spiritual life of the 13th Conference on World
Mission and Evangelism. On Sunday evening, May 15, participants joined
members of local churches on the Areopagus (sometimes translated as "Mars
Hill") where the apostle Paul proclaimed the gospel of Jesus and his
resurrection to first-century Athenian philosophers (Acts 17:18-34).

Participants processed up the lower slopes of the Acropolis as Greek
actors re-enacted Paul's journey to the same spot. As they arrived at the
Areopagus, gathering music was provided by the children's choir of St.
Joseph school, the youth choir and mandolins of St Panteleimon church and
the modern chamber orchestra of Athens playing with invited soloists.
Prayers and biblical readings were offered in five languages by Christians
from all points of the compass.

In his sermon, WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia recalled that "Paul was
right here at the Areopagus, to confront the clever and the wise with the
truth of the gospel of Christ. The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers held
Paul in contempt, wondering what 'this babbler' was trying to say. But
empowered by the Holy Spirit this babbler not only outdebated them, his
message lived on to transform the lives of millions."

For many Christians it was the day of Pentecost, so Kobia also discussed
the account of that event in Acts 2: "Among other things, the Holy Spirit
represents the gift of understanding. At Pentecost diversity was overcome
by a power that transcends it, the power to understand, to hear in one's
own language." Kobia found this revelation essential to Christian mission.
"The gospel is not our gospel that is to be translated from our language
and experience to others for their benefit; rather, the gospel is that
good news of Jesus Christ that all are privileged to hear, and the unity
of what we hear overcomes the diversity of who we are. As Christians, we
are members of a fellowship that exceeds our capacity to define it."

Kobia elaborated on how the universality of the gospel is given expression
in particular contexts. Today, he said, those who hear and believe are
called to take up such challenges as the false idols of wealth and power,
war and violence, oppression of women and minorities, inequities of
economic globalization and the stigma against those who live with
HIV/AIDS.

Sending forth this congregation from Athens, Kobia exhorted them: "Like
the apostle Paul and the disciples of Christ, who heard the good news as
they were, where they were, and they were never the same again, let us
allow the same Holy Spirit to come upon us, to convict us and transform us
in such a way that we shall never be the same again."

The full text of the sermon is available at:
http://www.oikoumene.org/Meditation_15_May_-_Kobia.1019+B6Jkw9MA__.0.html
Free high resolution photos, stories, news and documents of the conference
are available at:
http://www.mission2005.org/index.php?id=548&L=0

Conference website: www.mission2005.org

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org

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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, in
more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.